Ex-partners of local construction business indicted in visa fraud case

Richard Murdoch and Christopher Barrett, ex-partners of Royal Development, were arrested Monday.

April 26, 2010|By Amy L. Edwards, Orlando Sentinel

Two former partners of a Central Florida development company were indicted on charges they promised visas to British citizens in exchange for investments in Florida-based construction companies.

Richard A. Murdoch and Christopher A. Barrett, former partners of Royal Development LLC, were each arrested Monday on visa fraud charges, court records show. Both pleaded not guilty.

Also indicted was Hugh Morgan, a United Kingdom national who was once the registered agent for Royal Development. He remains a fugitive.

The indictment follows a 2007 conviction of Michael Leggett, who founded Royal Development with Murdoch. Leggett was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme.

Prosecutors say Murdoch, Morgan, Barrett and Leggett carried out their scheme — involving at least 12 people — from 2003 to 2006 in Orange, Osceola and Sarasota counties.

Royal Development told Britons they could invest in "sister" construction companies in Florida, which would allow them to qualify for and obtain a non-immigrant U.S. visa, according to the indictment.

The company also represented it would submit required visa paperwork to U.S. authorities, help people run the sister construction business and also help them adjust to living in America.

In most cases, Murdoch and Leggett required an "investment" of between $85,000 and $165,000 to purchase 90 percent to 100 percent of a sister company, and for the related visa services, the indictment said.

Prosecutors say the four men created fraudulent documents to submit to U.S. authorities, and Murdoch and Leggett forged signatures on the paperwork.

In some cases, the indictment said, Murdoch and Leggett lied to the people and said their visa application had been submitted, when it really had not.

Murdoch and Leggett targeted people who wanted to come to the United States at emigration exhibitions in the United Kingdom, at Royal Development offices in Florida, and by advertising in magazines and on the Internet.

Murdoch and Leggett used the money they got from investors to buy cars, take hang gliding lessons, pay rent, and other personal expenditures, prosecutors said.